Apr 4, 2017
TN food safety officials seize 4,000kg of artificially ripened fruits in March, warn strict action
On March 23, a 17-member team fanned out in Koyambedu market and seized close to 1,100kg of mangoes, 1,800kg of sapota and 300kg of papaya, along with 75kg of calcium carbide stones used to ripen them prematurely. In a surprise raid a week earlier, officials had found 1,000kg of mangoes being ripened with the same chemical.
Calcium carbide is the most commonly used chemical to ripen the 'king' of fruits. Some vendors also resort to burning kerosene stove or incense sticks in closed rooms to quicken the ripening process. Experts say these methods give the mangoes a bright yellow and have a longer shelf life but are dangerous to eat.
Calcium carbide is banned under Section 44A of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, but it is widely used by fruit merchants. The chemical in solid form is kept wrapped in paper among the fruits. It reacts with water to form acetylene, which catalyses the ripening process.
Medical experts say calcium carbide may contain traces of arsenic and phosphorous, which could damage the kidney and liver and cause ulcers and gastric problems. If they are artificially ripened, mangoes could pose serious health hazards even if they are eaten in moderate measure.
R Kathiravan, designated officer of TNFDA, Chennai district, said despite several awareness campaigns and warnings by the agency, traders continued to rampantly use the chemical, especially if the production of the fruit is lean or if the season gets off to a slow start. He said the department was mulling over cancelling the licences of shops selling such fruits. "We will be intimating the Market Management Committee on this once we sort out some legal hurdles," he said.
The public can also inform the department (044-23813095, email dofssache@gmail.com) on shops selling artificially ripened fruits.
Plastic eggs a myth,hints test on samples
The shells tested did not have any plastic (broadly any synthetic or semi-synthetic organic compounds), they a... Read More
Kolkata: Preliminary laboratory tests conducted by West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences indicated the "plastic egg" samples had calcium carbonate in their shells. The lab report on the yolk will be out on Wednesday.
The shells tested did not have any plastic (broadly any synthetic or semi-synthetic organic compounds), they are therefore fit for human consumption, experts said.
Kolkata Municipal Corporation MMiC (Health) Atin Ghosh, said, "The preliminary reports suggest the eggshells do not have any plastic. There is no reason to panic, yet. We are keeping a close watch on the developments. As the final report is awaited, we will continue our sporadic drives on specific complaints of spurious eggs."
The development came on the same day when a complaint came from Panchasayer off E M Bypass. Some residents of a posh apartment complex claimed they were sold spurious eggs by a leading mall, a charge denied by the mall owners.
The Kolkata Police enforcement branch already probing the plastic egg allegations are now in a spot. An FIR has been drawn at Karaya police station in this regard under IPC sections — 420 (cheating), 120B (criminal conspiracy) and 273 (sale of noxious food or drink).
On Friday, Karaya egg seller Md Shamim Ansari was arrested based on a complaint by a local Anita Kumar. Ansari named two persons, Sumit Deb and Gour Chakraborty, who sold him the eggs. Both were questioned. Deb,owner of SRD Enterprises in Sealdah's wholesale market, is also the nephew of CPM leader Rabin Deb. He denied all charges.
The enforcement branch also questioned two major egg wholesalers and stockist. A third is likely to be summoned soon. "Should the lab tests reveal anything to the contrary, we will move the court," a senior police officer said.
Chief minister Mamata Banerjee also indicated the cops will flush out the rumour mongers should these allegations turn baseless. According to a source, allegations of plastic egg are not new. They had surfaced in Kerala in October. The Kerala Food Safety commissioner, had then confirmed the samples tested were real eggs, but rotten. Apparently, the texture of eggs change after being exposed to different temperatures over time.
Not a single abattoir in Uttarakhand is legal, says state food safety dept
DEHRADUN: Officials of the state food safety department (FSD) have claimed that none of the 14 government slaughterhouses in Uttarakhand have got food safety licences from the Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and that all of them have been running illegally. “Meat samples from these abattoirs have never been checked by us, and therefore the safety of the meat is not certified,” said an official of FSD. The claim puts into question the standard of meat supplied in the state, one of the country’s richest in terms of per capita income, where almost 75% of the population (over 15 yrs old) is non-vegetarian as per the sample registration system baseline survey 2014.
Uttarakhand has 14 slaughter houses which are run under the aegis of urban and rural local bodies. Veterinary doctors from the state animal husbandry department are meant to ensure that animals being slaughtered are infection-free and the meat is fit for consumption before it is supplied in the market. However, citing shortage of staff and resources, the meat quality is hardly checked by the department, FSD officials said. They added that they have sent notices to these abattoirs periodically regarding their non-compliance of rules and have also filed a case against the health officers of urban local bodies in Dehradun and Mussoorie.
“None of the abattoirs in the state are adhering to the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and hence, we haven’t given them a license. Although notices have been sent, the concerned people have been ignoring them repeatedly,” said a senior official of FSD, Dehradun who did not wish to be named. SS Bisht, director, Uttarakhand animal husbandry department, when queried, said that the department “provides veterinary doctors to abattoirs as per the request of local bodies.” “Till now, we have provided permanent doctor to just one slaughter house based in Doon while for the rest, doctors go when called.” Dr Kailash Gunjyal, health officer, municipal corporation, Dehradun, had this take on the matter: “As per the previous arrangements, the local body had authority to give NOC as well as licence to the abattoirs. But since FSD gives licence now, the department is working at resolving the matter accordingly.”
Incidentally, taking a cue from the UP government, the Uttarakhand government had last week started clamping down on illegal abattoirs located at Haridwar. But the allegation of the government’s own abattoirs not adhering to norms, has put a question mark over the future of these slaughter houses. Reacting to the issue, Dehradun district food safety officer Anuj Thapliyal told TOI, “We have sent notices to the abattoirs in Dehradun and Mussoorie. Since the matter is currently sub-judice, these slaughter houses cannot be shut as of now.”
Meanwhile, meat traders and retailers in Dehradun said that they will protest if they incurred financial losses in the event of the slaughter houses being closed. “The abattoirs are being run by the government. Why should we suffer if the government has not followed norms,” said Naeem Quereshi, owner of a restaurant on Gandhi road.
DU CANTEENS RUNNING WITHOUT VALID LICENSES
DU canteens have been found to be running without valid licenses and are flouting safety norms.
An RTI query has revealed that most of the canteens in University of Delhi run without a valid license from the regulating authority, food safety and standard authority of India (FSSAI)
The RTI in question was filed by a law faculty student, Mohit Kumar Gupta. The reply from the assistant registrar (estate) stated that DU has not made any rules and regulations for the food safety and precaution. Also, other contents regarding food safety and precaution are mentioned in the cafeteria services tender inviting notice.
In October 2016, the UGC had made it mandatory for all messes and canteen operating in varsities and universities to get a license from FSSAI, in accordance with the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
The FSSAI guidelines state that all canteens and workers should have adequate cleaning, disinfecting facility for equipment and utensils, proper facilities for washing of raw material and utensils, workers should be provided with clean aprons, head wear, hand gloves and foot wear.
“Any statutory authority or DU has never issued any guidelines/rules which prescribe bearing of FSSAI license as mandatory condition for grant of contract for food operating canteen.”, says Mr Gupta, administrative officer, SRCC. Moreover, food is cooked in domestic LPG cylinders instead of the standard blue cylinders supposed to be used for commercial purposes.
The canteens still go through the routine checks and inspections by a regulating university body. “We have to check our papers to see if the canteens fall under the UGC guidelines as they were established a long time back”, said the general sectary of DU canteens.
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